Treasures of Turkey Independent Journey

Days

15

Price from

£1,895GBP

Fall under Turkey's spell touring Goreme's Open Air Museum, the ruins of Ephesus and hot springs of Pamukkale

The more you see of Turkey, the more you realise you have yet to see. From the cosmopolitan delights of Istanbul to the Roman remains of Ephesus, you’ll discover a country of fascinating contrasts. You’ll cover a lot of ground in 15 days but still have plenty of time to stroll, shop and relax with a pot of apple tea.

Treasures of Turkey Independent Journey

Fall under Turkey's spell touring Goreme's Open Air Museum, the ruins of Ephesus and hot springs of Pamukkale

The more you see of Turkey, the more you realise you have yet to see. From the cosmopolitan delights of Istanbul to the Roman remains of Ephesus, you’ll discover a country of fascinating contrasts. You’ll cover a lot of ground in 15 days but still have plenty of time to stroll, shop and relax with a pot of apple tea.

Why we love this trip

Cut through the chaos of Istanbul with a local guide who can show you things you would never find on your own

Feast your eyes on the best of Turkey's other-wordly sights, from the 'Cotton Castle' of Pamukkale to the psychedelic rockscapes of Cappadocia

Keep your travel time to a minimum by flying directly from Istanbul to Goreme

Your 3-night 'feature stay' in Goreme is at one of the first boutique hotels in the region

Enter the world of Ephesus, possibly the greatest Greco-Roman site on the planet

Take the opportunity for an invigorating Turkish bath. Nothing in the west quite compares to this refreshing and healing ancient ritual

Is this trip right for you?

This trip involves a lot of walking, sometimes on rocky or slippery terrain such as the sites in Goreme. Please bring sturdy walking shoes. You also have the option to sit out many of the walks if you don't feel up to them.

Night-time temperatures can be quite cool, particularly in April and October. Not all hotels will have heating so make sure you bring a few warm items with you.

Turkey can get hot in the summer months of July and August but this is normally a dry heat and is easier to cope with than humidity. Where possible, you'll be taken to sites in the early morning before it gets too hot.

You'll be covering a lot of land during the trip, which means a few long days of driving. Usually, however, longer drives are broken up with stops in interesting places.

Gallery

Itinerary

Welcome to Istanbul; the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have called home.
Your welcome meeting will be at 1pm today
If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you are going to be late, please inform your booking agent. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand.

Note: if you arrive at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport (IST) you will be met and transferred to your hotel. If you arrive at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) please make your own way to the hotel or book your own transfer.

Accommodation

The Golden Horn Hotel Sirkeci or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Istanbul - Blue Mosque

Optional Activities

Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public) - TRY25

Istanbul - Galata Tower - TRY18

Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY20

Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY25

Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (incl. massage) - TRY120

Istanbul - Topkapi Palace - TRY45

Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - TRY40

Istanbul - Topkapi Palace - TRY65

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

An airport arrival transfer is included. This complimentary transfer is valid from Ataturk International Airport (IST) only and is only offered if arriving on day 1 of your trip or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Peregrine. Transfers from Sabiha Gocken Airport can be pre-booked, but will be at an additional cost. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel (note - we may not be able confirm request made within 15 days of travel). Once you have provided your details a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Early this morning, after breakfast we begin the drive to Çanakkale, located on the shores of the Dardanelles, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea and touches both Europe (with the Gelibolu Peninsula) and Asia (with the Biga Peninsula).
After lunch we will visit Gallipoli, visit the beach and cemeteries of Anzac Cove. Then head up the hill toward the poignant memorials of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Look down upon the rough hills and gullies that became the graveyard for so many thousands of young men from both sides. You will tour the former battlefields and find remnants of trenches used by the Turkish soldiers.
Return to Canakkale for the night.

Accommodation

Grand Anzac Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Gallipoli - Guided visit of Gallipoli Peninsula

Meals Included

En route to Selcuk today you'll stop at the site of Troy. As well as seeing the remnants of the ancient city walls and the famed wooden horse, you will learn more about the groundbreaking archaeological digs here and how the site has baffled historians. Arrive at Selcuk later in the day and visit Sirince to enjoy a tasting of local fruit wine.

Accommodation

Akay Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Seluck - Orientation Walk

Troy - Archeological Guided Site Visit

Meals Included

This morning enjoy an orientation walk around the village of Selcuk, a sprawling town lying at the base of the ancient Aysoluk Hill fortress. You'll visit the last remaining column of the Temple of Artemis, the ancient aqueducts and the 14th-century Isabey Mosque.

Later this afternoon visit Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world. Tour around the amphitheatre, stroll the marble streets once walked by Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and beautifully restored Library of Celsus.

Accommodation

Akay Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Ephesus - guided archaeological site visit

Optional Activities

Ephesus - Terrace Houses Entry - TRY25

Meals Included

After breakfast this morning we drive to Pamukkale, also known as 'Cotton Castle' and a truly unique sight. This magical and spectacular natural phenomenon was created by deposits from thermal waters that cascaded down the mountainside over hundreds of years, forming a myriad of pools and terraces. As the water overflows from the pools, dazzling cream-coloured stalactites are formed that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. The pools are filled with hot spring waters that supposedly have healing properties for a person's circulation and digestive systems. Close to Pamukkale are the ruins of Hierapolis, which was founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BC and by the 2nd Century AD it had become an important Roman bath centre. The extensive ruins of Hierapolis are well worth exploring and include a theatre, temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica and necropolis.

Included Activities

Pamukkale - Hierapolis & Travertines National Park

Meals Included

This morning we pay a visit to a weavers' association and see first-hand how Turkish carpets are made. After lunch, travel to the Greek ghost-town of Kayakoy. Stroll around and take in the eerie atmosphere, due in no small part to population repatriation and earthquake damage. Continue on to Fethiye, a culturally fertile town located on a bay, surrounded by pine forests and islands.

Accommodation

Tiryaki Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Kayakoy - Ghost Village

Meals Included

Continue on to the seaside village of Kas. Here you'll see charming whitewashed houses covered in bougainvilleas as well as an ancient Greek theatre. Sample the local cuisine and enjoy the night in the town's quaint centre.

Accommodation

Linda Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Kas - Leader led orientation walk

Meals Included

Drive to Kekova and embark on a boat cruise around the local islands. Look out for rock formations and houses that have been submerged under the clear water. Onboard the boat you'll enjoy a Turkish meal cooked by your host family for the day. The cruise takes you to the settlement of Ucagiz and also to the village of Simena. You'll also sail from large bays to beautiful protected inlets where you can go for a swim. Return to Kas in the evening.

Accommodation

Linda Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals Included

Head to the coast this morning, and eventually to Antalya, the capital of the Turkish Mediterranean (a 5-hour drive in total). Glimpse beautiful views of the Taurus Mountains en route, stopping at Beyşehir to see the Eşrefoğlu Mosque, a fine example of Seljuk Turkish architecture. Arrive in Antalya in the late afternoon. Your hotel is located in the Kaleiçi (old city) and you'll go on an afternoon walk to see Hadrians Gate, the old Roman Harbour and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, and take a guided tour of the Antalya Museum this afternoon

Accommodation

Aspen Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Antalya - Antalya Museum

Guided Tour of Phaselis

Meals Included

Continue on to Konya, an ancient city important in Roman times, and where the mystic Sufi practice of 'whirling' originates. You'll visit the mausoleum of the famous mystic Mevlana, the museum housing manuscripts of his works, as well as various artefacts relating to the mystic sect that he fo

Accommodation

Şemsi Tebrizi or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Konya - Mevlana Museum

Meals Included

Today's itinerary includes a visit to the incredible underground city of Derinkuyu. See dwellings that span seven levels beneath the ground. From here you'll make your way to the archaeological site of Asikli Höyük, which was first settled in 8,000 BC. Then settle into your feature stay hotel in Goreme; one of the first boutique hotels in the region

Accommodation

Heybe Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Goreme - Derinkuyu Underground City

Optional Activities

Goreme - Whirling Dervishes - Sema Performance - EUR25

Meals Included

Start the day with a visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum. See the many incredible houses, churches and monasteries carved out of the soft cliff face. The Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art, cave chapels and colourful biblical frescoes from the 10th–12th centuries. Later in the afternoon, you'll go on a short walk through 'Love Valley' which is famous for its phallic rock formations. Then head back to your hotel in Goreme. Perhaps take an optional Turkish bath to unwind at the end of the day.

Accommodation

Heybe Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Goreme - Carpet shop visit & demonstration

Goreme - Open Air Museum

Meals Included

Early birds have the option of taking a hot air balloon over the otherworldly Cappadocian landscape. The scene at sunrise is sure to take your breath away.
Please note this activity can only be booked locally. Please speak to your trip leader on Day 1 to organise this.
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast and then go for a walk to the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia, Kizilcukur. You'll see fascinating rock formations such as cones, peaks and fairy chimneys, as well as manmade cave chapels from early Christian times

Accommodation

Heybe Hotel or similar (1 night)

Included Activities

Goreme - Valley Walk in Capadoccia

Meals Included

This morning say goodbye to Cappadocia and fly to Istanbul; the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have called home.
On arrival into Istanbul you will be transferred to your hotel.
The afternoon is yours to explore some of the hidden charms of Istanbul.
Tonight consider joining your group in leader in a farewell dinner (optional)

Note: You will travel by Plane to Nevsehir or Kayseria airport before being transferred to the village of Goreme. The transfer time is approximately 1.5-2 hours.

Days

15

Price from

£1,895GBP

Fall under Turkey's spell touring Goreme's Open Air Museum, the ruins of Ephesus and hot springs of Pamukkale

The more you see of Turkey, the more you realise you have yet to see. From the cosmopolitan delights of Istanbul to the Roman remains of Ephesus, you’ll discover a country of fascinating contrasts. You’ll cover a lot of ground in 15 days but still have plenty of time to stroll, shop and relax with a pot of apple tea.

Reviews

Barbara Callaghan

Peregrine offers an adventure without worry - they take from you the responsibility for finding hotels, transport, pacing of the itinerary - when you don't know the area. We'd never used a tour company before, and we would use them again.

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Dates & availability

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
An optional single supplement is available on this trip. Please refer to your booking agent for further information.
Please note: single supplement rooms are smaller than double or twin rooms.

23 APRIL DEPARTURE 2017:
This departure ties in with ANZAC day at Gallipoli. The night of Day 13 will be spent camping in Anzac Cove instead of hotel accommodation

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.